Chicago Reader
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Jennie Sophia is terrific as Kate the shrew but shares no chemistry with Andy Baldeschwiler, who gives a wooden, indifferently sung performance as her would-be tamer, Petruchio. Likewise, Rachel Quinn proves an able triple threat as Kate's sister, Bianca, but Wes Drummond can't match her as Bianca's suitor. Though Kevin Bellie's choreography soars, many of Porter's songs sag here and most of the comedy in Samuel and Bella Spewack's usually hilarious book falls flat."
Windy City Times
- Not Recommended
"...Kiss Me, Kate is a mishmash of brilliant individual numbers ( which don't always further the plot like "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" ) and a flimsy script to hang those on. To make Kiss Me, Kate work, you need supremely talented and charismatic performers in a beautiful production. But Circle Theatre fails on multiple counts."
Time Out Chicago
- Somewhat Recommended
"...
Director Knuth never finds an effective rhythm for all these shenanigans, and consequently his staging lacks precision and momentum. The cast members, sporting some of the worst wigs on record, alternate between overplaying a joke and seeming unaware they’re telling one. There are bright spots—Kevin Bellie’s flashy choreography, Rachel Quinn’s brassy take on a gold-digging ingenue, John Roeder as one of the dim-witted hoods—but they’re the exception, not the rule."
ChicagoCritic
- Somewhat Recommended
"...While I was disappointed by the sound problems, I do believe that once those issues are addressed and the singers either start belting over the orchestra and/or the sound gets muted a tad, Kiss Me Kate will be a worthy show. The material is excellent. I’m sure the folks at Circle Theatre will fix things. They have such a rich history of mounting excellent musicals that they’ll solve the challenges of their new venue."
Around The Town Chicago
- Recommended
"...As I said, this is a talented cast with some marvelous dancing and Bellie really gets 110% out of his dancers. While I find the play a little long with a number or two that could probably be cut, the audience appeared to love every number and it did not appear to be a family and friends audience, just theater-goers who continue to enjoy what Circle offers them, quality theater at affordable prices in a new and comfortable theater. A tip of the hat to the ensemble, bless them, for as I always say, a musical can only work if the ensemble members plays their roles: Jonathan Altman,Jake Autizen,Julia Beck,Jennifer Bludgen,Christopher Boyd,Rachek Burt,Audrey Layne Crocker,Jon Landvick,Merrill Matheson,Elizabeth Morgan, Andriana Pachella,Gregory Payne,Joshua A Peterson, Christine Ronna,Gina Sparacino and Kirk Swank."
Chicago Theater Beat
- Somewhat Recommended
"...the signature triumph belongs to the hard-hoofing, all-crooning chorus, whose Lindy-hopping, jitterbugging dances look totally authentic and still seem improvised on the spot. If only the orchestra could have brought out all the sensuous sounds that Porter intended for songs that can be treasured and never bettered."
